About HMS Shipshape
“We’re more than just a class, We’re a community!”
It’s origins- May 2015- 2020
HMS Shipshape was an exercise venture originally created for the local village residents of Praze an Beeble, Camborne to attend. The idea came about after Captain Heidi recently qualified as an aerobics instructor and wanted to help, inspire, motivate and build an exercise community within the village where her father Geoff James grew up and where other family members live today.
The concept for HMS Shipshape developed from a present that Heidi’s mum (Shipshape Sue) gave Heidi when starting university which was a HMS Shipshape lifebuoy mirror. Heidi liked the nautical concept and of living in Cornwall and it gave a different twist on how health and fitness is currently marketed within the county. It’s also reflective of Heidi’s teaching style and attitude to exercise in ensuring that primarily it’s fun, friendly and helps to be build social networks whilst simultaneously enhancing people’s individual goals and outlook to health and fitness.
The original crew started with Heidi’s mum Shipshape Sue and ‘Skipper Tammy’ (Heidi’s close friend) working together, delivering classes in Praze an Beeble, until COVID and then the dynamics and delivery shifted in response to the pandemic and Heidi’s changed perspective on exercise and a greater focus on emotional wellbeing.
Post COVID 2020-Now
The HMS Shipshape delivery at Praze an Beeble continues, but with Heidi based in Truro, she has extended her class offering into that community also and is now working solo. Having felt the impact of the COVID lockdown both physically and emotionally post pandemic, Heidi has been keen to engage and strengthen her network in the business landscape, promoting the message of communities and the importance of social connections and physical fitness in supporting your emotional health and wellbeing. This has extended into delivery of her own charity and networking events as well as working with our local charity community groups and organisations in helping to support others in their understanding of exercise and wellbeing with the recent creation of a short course workshop that combines a holistic activity with several dance fitness sessions.
She has also added gym instructor and personal trainer qualifications to her portfolio and is a mental first aider at work and health and wellbeing champion in a voluntary capacity within the local community.
Our Exercise Philosophy
HMS Shipshape is primarily about bringing exercise that is both fun and friendly for everyone into the local village community. It provides people with a moment of escapism from the sometimes harsh and hectic real life world, allowing personal time to exercise in a fun, friendly, open, trusting and non-judgemental environment at a level that suits your own physical abilities and fitness goals.
Our aim to deliver a jam packed class with a variety of music and exercises that’s uplifting, energising and allows you to have a laugh, smile and grow in confidence with your mind and body as well as building more social relationships with our fellow ship shaping clients.